Duncan 59 - good all round PAF?

TTBZ

I've fancied trying a lower output PAF style pickup in my SG bridge position for a while and just seen a 59 bridge for sale at a decent price on here. Much as I'd like an Oil City or Bare Knuckle I don't want to spend that much on something I might not like. Does the 59 bridge give a good general purpose PAF style tone for rock in an SG? Main concerns are that it might be a bit thin/bright as I like a middy tone, but the natural mids of the SG should balance it out?

My current bridge pickup is a Bare Knuckle Warpig which was great for fattening it up and for metal stuff but I just want more of a classic vintagey SG tone now.

Whitecat

Nothing wrong with them, I think they are quite neutral in character though which perfectly suits some people and other not so much, but they sound like a decent humbucker and do the job for not a lot of money. 

Edit: should note I’ve never played them in an SG, my experience comes from using them in a couple Knaggs guitars for which they are stock. One was bought with the intention of replacing them but the whole package sounded really exceptionally good so I just didn’t bother. Suspect that was a bit of “sum of all parts” with that specific example though.

Funkfingers

IMHO, the Duncan SH-1 ‘59 does a fine job of impersonating an old Gibson humbucker AFTER a bar magnet swap. 

A4 and a metal cover for the neck/Rhythm position.

Roughcast and/or un-oriented A5 for the bridge/Treble position.

If anything, the brightness of this pickup compensates for the all-mahogany body construction of a Gibson SG.

Schnozz

I think I prefer the Jjazz, but it depends what guitar it's in.

I had a swamp ash / flatsawn maple superstrat and the '59 was a perfect match.

ICBM

It might be inappropriate for me to comment in case it’s my one you’re looking at , but I think it will do what you want .

The ‘59 is more even-sounding, a bit chunkier and less ‘airy’ than a real PAF-type, although it’s in the same ballpark. The bridge one is just a tiny bit overwound, enough to help with balancing it with the neck but without really changing the character. It is quite bright, but it’s also potted which helps with higher-gain sounds compared to a true vintage PAF copy. Basically it’s a good modern version of a PAF without the drawbacks, but also without quite the same ‘magic’... if that makes sense!

SunDevil

I can’t speak for a genuine PAF (never had the pleasure) but along the lines of @Funkfingers recommendation, a mag swap to Alnico IV can balance out the tone of the 59 and make it a bit less mid-scooped

The Suhr Thornbucker Bridge is pretty much the above as an off the shelf unit

fastonebaz

I have an SG 2018 standard and thr neck pickup on that is sublime.  Highly recommend those pups.

TTBZ

Sounds like it might do what I want then had anyone compared it to an Irongear Blues Engine? I have liked AIV pickups in the past, Bare Knuckle Mules were great all-rounders in my Les Paul although I remember finding them a bit "plain" in my SG.

@fastonebaz is that the 490R? I really like that in an SG and shouldn't have sold it really.

JayGee

I believe it’s what’s in the neck position of my Graham Coxon Telecaster, obviously it’s a very different application but it works very, very nicely there...

Stratavarious

Get a Tonerider Alnico II or Alnico IV classic...

best value pickups out there.  Paying for a name with SD.

jdbwales

TTBZ said:

Sounds like it might do what I want then had anyone compared it to an Irongear Blues Engine? I have liked AIV pickups in the past, Bare Knuckle Mules were great all-rounders in my Les Paul although I remember finding them a bit "plain" in my SG.

@fastonebaz is that the 490R? I really like that in an SG and shouldn't have sold it really.

I’ve compared a ‘59 to Blues Engines - Iron Gears clearly win out. Clearer, less shrill than the ‘59 and beefier under high gain. It’s essentially the magnet swap @Funkfingers recommended (BEs are A4) but done and wax potted for you...and cheaper.

TTBZ

Did you directly compare them in the same guitar? Must admit I like the idea of getting a complete set for about £70 new! My only concern with the Blues Engine is that I might have the same problem I had with my Mules ie fine, just a bit plain/polite sounding. 

Stevepage

Never tried it as a bridge pickup but I love it as a neck pickup. I have a 59 going into a Warmoth build and I've had a Lil 59 in the neck position of my Strat.

guitarmangler

Allan Holdsworth used the neck 59, in the bridge, but with double screws. 

ICBM

The neck '59 is probably my favourite neck humbucker - it's like a PAF but more even and slightly fuller, and non-microphonic. It also seems to split better, if you need that - it's the lowest-output pickup that I think splits well. I prefer it over the Jazz and Pearly Gates in the Duncan range, both of which can sound a bit thin to me. I don't like the bridge '59 anywhere near as much though, for me it's too bright and not high enough output, but that's just because I prefer something more modern and midrangy there. (I know that's the exact opposite of what TTBZ is looking for though!)

Schnozz

BUT!!

DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THE SILVER LOGO??

Stevepage

Schnozz said:

BUT!!

DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THE SILVER LOGO??

Toothpaste + clean cloth + elbow grease.

Sounds mental but worked for me.

ICBM

Schnozz said:

DOES ANYBODY KNOW HOW TO GET RID OF THE SILVER LOGO??

T-Cut or Brasso.

TTBZ

@ICBM not necessarily, I don't want something bright and weak sounding. Just more of a vintage kinda vibe but still needs to be punchy and powerful. Thinking about it I did have a Custom 5 in here for a bit and found it too scooped/muddy so I'm wondering if the 59 will be too scooped again. 

Once again leaning towards just finding a 2nd hand 498t again! Or maybe my original plan of a BK Mississippi Queen P90 if I can find a 2nd hand one. Won't be a PAF but if it matches the neck one it should sound great.

ICBM

TTBZ said:

@ICBM not necessarily, I don't want something bright and weak sounding. Just more of a vintage kinda vibe but still needs to be punchy and powerful. Thinking about it I did have a Custom 5 in here for a bit and found it too scooped/muddy so I'm wondering if the 59 will be too scooped again.

Probably - I do find it too bright and thin in most guitars, personally.

I've got a DiMarzio Air Norton if that's any good? It splits the difference between vintage and modern quite nicely - clearer and more 'airy' (I don't know if that's how they got the name, but it fits) than a typical high-output type but more punchy than a typical PAF-type - 12.6K (although DC resistance is not gospel as to output!). Traditional screw/slug poles rather than double Allen screws.

Yamaha77

Stratavarious said:

Get a Tonerider Alnico II or Alnico IV classic...

best value pickups out there.  Paying for a name with SD.

Have a wisdom, they are very good sounding